Queen Creek Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft from Nursing Home Firm

In her plea agreement, Gutierrez, an office manager for Evergreen Healthcare, a nursing home management company in Phoenix, pleaded guilty to diverting money from the firm for her own use. An audit of Evergreen Healthcare determined that the defendant had altered computer records and submitted to the corporate office requests for payments in the names of her friends, family and other seemingly legitimate payees. The audit determined that she diverted a total of $163,830.

The plea agreement provides that the defendant will serve 2.5 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27. Assistant Attorney General Steve Duplissis is handling this case.